It’s your future.

You can protect it.

CS263341
If you are sexually active and are not ready to become a parent, it is important to use birth 

control to protect yourself from pregnancy. 

It is also important to reduce your risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), 

including HIV. 

Condoms are the only birth control that reduces your risk of both pregnancy and STDs, 

including HIV. But, in order to work, condoms must be used correctly and must be used 

every time you have sex. It’s important to know, however, that they cannot completely protect 

you and your partner from some STDs, like herpes, syphilis, or human papillomavirus (HPV), 

the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer. Also, condoms can break, slip, or leak, 

especially if they are not put on and taken off properly. 

The only sure way to prevent pregnancy and STDs is NOT to have sex.

Even if you or your partner is using another type of birth control, agree to use a condom every time you have sex, 

to reduce the risk to both of you for HIV and most other STDs. 

If you do have sex, use DUAL PROTECTION. 

Condom

Birth Control Pill Patch Ring

Implant Injection IUD

Remember!

Use a condom and birth control.

Condoms must be used correctly and used every time you have sex.

Sometimes you or your partner might not know if one of you has an STD. 
How do you put a condom on correctly?

Know how to use a condom the right way, every time.

The condom should be put on before any genital contact. Sperm may come out of the penis before the male 

ejaculates, so put the condom on before any skin-to-skin contact begins. You should also know that some STDs 

can be transmitted without intercourse, through genital (skin-to-skin) contact. To reduce the risk of pregnancy 

and STDs (including HIV), males need to wear a condom the entire time from the beginning to the end of genital 

contact, each and every time.

1

When you are opening the 

package, gently tear it on the 

side. Do not use your teeth or 

scissors because you might rip 

the condom that’s inside. Pull 

the condom out of the package 

slowly so that it doesn’t tear.

2 Put the rolled up condom over 

the head of the penis when it 

is hard.

3 Pinch the tip of the condom 

enough to leave a half-inch 

space for semen to collect.

4

Holding the tip of the condom, 

unroll it all the way down to 

the base of the penis.

When the condom is on, it should feel snug enough so that it won’t fall off during sex, but not too tight.

If you accidentally put on a condom inside-out, throw it away and get a new one. You can tell a condom is 

inside-out if it won’t roll down the length of the penis easily.

If the condom ever tears or rips when you are putting it on or when it’s being used, throw it away and use 

a new one.

If you feel the condom break at any point before or during sex:

Stop

immediately! Withdraw.

Carefully remove the 

broken condom and 

put on a new one. 

If the condom breaks, pregnancy can be prevented with emergency contraception. 

Emergency contraception (the “Morning-After Pill”) works best when it’s started as 

soon as possible after sex, but can be started up to 5 days after sex.

Remember: Emergency contraception helps prevent pregnancy, but it 

does NOT protect against STDs.

What

if the

condom

breaks?

How do you take off a condom correctly?

The most common mistake is not using condoms from the beginning of sexual contact to the very end, after 

ejaculation. Immediately after ejaculation, hold the bottom of the condom so it stays on and semen cannot spill out. 

Then, carefully withdraw the penis while it is still hard. Once the penis is out, you can remove the condom, wrap it 

in tissue, and throw it in the trash. Do not flush it down the toilet because it might clog.
Know your

CONDOM DOs & DON’Ts

DO

● Read all the information on the

package. Know what you are using.

Check the expiration date on the 

package. If it is expired, get a new 

package of condoms and throw away 

the old ones.

Use only condoms that are made of 

latex or polyurethane (plastic). Latex 

condoms and polyurethane condoms 

are the best types of condoms to use 

to help prevent pregnancy, STDs, and 

HIV. 

Use a pre-lubricated condom to help 

prevent it from tearing. If you only 

have a non-lubricated condom, put 

a little bit of water-based lubricant 

(“lube”) inside and outside the 

condom.

Condoms come in different sizes, 

colors, textures, and thicknesses. 

Talk with your partner and choose 

condoms both of you like.

DON’T

● Do not use two condoms at once

Do not use condoms made of animal 

skin, sometimes called “natural” 

condoms. Animal skin condoms can 

help prevent pregnancy but don’t 

work as well as latex or polyurethane 

condoms to prevent STDs, including 

HIV. 

Do not keep condoms in a place that 

can get very hot, like in a car. If you 

keep a condom in your wallet or purse, 

be sure you replace it with a new one 

regularly.

Do not use any kind of oil-based 

lubricants (like petroleum jellies, 

lotions, mineral oil, or vegetable oils). 

These can negatively affect the latex, 

making it more likely to rip or tear.

Do not reuse condoms.

Do not use condoms that are torn or 

outdated.

www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/Teens.html